Exercise Apparatus with Divergent/Convergent Motion Along the Symmetric Semi Elliptical Rout

ABSTRACT

An exercise apparatus with divergent/convergent motion along the symmetric semi elliptical route includes a base frame for supporting all the components of the apparatus, two handlebars move along the symmetric semi elliptical route, two feet pedals move along the symmetric semi elliptical route in harmony with the handlebars, Two link mechanisms to create symmetrical semi elliptical route to support handlebars and feet pedals, power transmission system to connect link mechanisms and synchronize their motion. This apparatus enables user to move hands forward/backward in the same direction so that hands have a lateral divergent motion at the start of the route and lateral convergent motion at the end of the route. By moving hands along the symmetric semi elliptical route a symmetrical variable pressure will be applied on the different muscles. Feet move along the symmetric semi elliptical route in full harmony with hands so that hands move backward/forward in the opposite direction of feet.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of exercise equipment and in particular motion base mechanisms to be used to enable user to move hands forward/backward in the same direction so that hands have a lateral divergent motion at the start of the route and lateral convergent motion at the end of the route. By moving hands along the symmetric semi elliptical route a symmetrical variable pressure will be applied on the different muscles. Feet move along the symmetric semi elliptical route in full harmony with hands so that hands move backward/forward in the opposite direction of feet.

2. BACKGROUND

Maintaining proper fitness is growing concern from many people. Medical community has become increasingly aware in the value of exercise to the overall health of an individual. Furthermore, athletes need regular and stringent workout to maintain their abilities. Exercise apparatuses have been, and still are, an important part of the sport and workout. Exercise apparatuses have evolved from simple equipment to advanced and technically sophisticated equipment with special mechanisms. Using mechanical and electrical parts and new software enable user to take more advantage of exercise apparatuses.

In conventional exercise machine usually the user moves hands or feet in the opposite direction, this means at the certain moment while hands are being moved in the opposite direction and usually along the simple route, an asymmetrical pressure will be applied on the muscles of user's upper body also asymmetrical pressure will be applied on the feet and lower body's muscles. By moving hands forward/backward in the same direction and along the symmetric semi elliptical route, user will experience a new type of symmetrical load on his muscles and at the same time feet are being moved along the symmetric semi elliptical route in full harmony with hands so that hands move backward/forward in the opposite direction of feet Also semi elliptical route varies direction and magnitude of the forces on the different muscles and this helps user to experience a new type of exercise.

3. DESCRIPTION

Described exercise apparatus enables user to move hands forward/backward in the same direction so that hands have a lateral divergent motion at the start of the route and lateral convergent motion at the end of the route. By moving hand along the symmetric semi elliptical route a symmetrical variable pressure will be applied on the different muscles. Feet move along the symmetric semi elliptical route in full harmony with hands so that hands move backward/forward in the opposite direction of feet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an exercise apparatus that enables user to move hands forward/backward in the same direction so that hands have a lateral divergent motion at the start of the route and lateral convergent motion at the end of the route. By moving hand along the symmetric semi elliptical route a symmetrical variable pressure will be applied on the different muscles. Feet move along the symmetric semi elliptical route in full harmony with hands so that hands move backward/forward in the opposite direction of feet.

According to this invention an exercise apparatus with divergent/convergent motion comprises a base frame, a synchronized link mechanism mounted on the upper front end of the said base frame, a synchronized link mechanism mounted on the lower rear end of the said base frame, power transmission systems, flywheel, slide unit, a controlling means for adjusting resistance force.

A base frame for supporting all components and adapted to be supported on a supporting surface having upper front end and lower rear end, a synchronized link mechanism connected pivotally at upper front end of said base frame including two symmetric link mechanisms mounted pivotally on the said base frame and are synchronized by two gears mounted on the said base frame and respectively rotate with left and right symmetric link mechanisms to synchronize two symmetrical link mechanisms, two handlebars downwardly are fixed to the upper symmetrical link mechanisms, a synchronized link mechanism connected pivotally at the lower rear end of the said base frame including two symmetrical link mechanisms mounted pivotally on the said base frame and are synchronized by two gear mounted on the said base frame and respectively rotate with left and right link mechanisms to synchronize two symmetrical link mechanisms, two feet pedals having middle mounted pivotally on the lower synchronized link mechanism respectively to the right and left symmetric link mechanisms and having front end mounted slidably on the slide unit connector shaft, power transmission system mounted on the middle of the said base frame to make harmony between upper and lower synchronized mechanisms also transfer power to the flywheel after increasing speed ratio, slide unit including two rails are fixed lateral to the lower rear end of the said base frame and two sliders are connected slidably to the rails respectively to left and right, a controlling means including a control panel mounted on the console at the top of said base frame enables user to change resistance force during workout and magnetic brake is installed on the middle of said base frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of described invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the appended drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of described exercise apparatus including all parts, cases and control panel.

FIG. 2a is schematic top view of the described exercise apparatus shows mechanisms and position of the user's hands and handlebars also position of the user's feet and feet pedals when they are far to each other.

FIG. 2b is a perspective view of the symmetrical semi elliptical route and shows how user's feet and hands move divergent to reach to the farthest point to each other so that user's feet move from position 3 to 4 while user's hand move from position 1 to position 2.

FIG. 3a is schematic top view of the described exercise apparatus shows mechanisms and position of the user's hands and handlebars also position of the user's feet and feet pedals when they are at the nearest point to each other.

FIG. 3b is a perspective view of the symmetrical semi elliptical route and shows how user's feet and hands move convergent to reach to the nearest point to each other so that user's feet move from position 3 to 4 while user's hand move from position 1 to position 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the described exercise apparatus shows main units of apparatus and where they are mounted on the base frame

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the synchronized link mechanism and symmetric semi elliptical route shows feet pedals connection points 300, 600 on the lower synchronized linked mechanism also how these points travel route in one complete cycle.

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of the upper synchronized mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the upper synchronized mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the lower synchronized mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the power transmission systems.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the slide unit.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of assembled described exercise apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another aspect of described exercise apparatus. In this case user's upper body is fixed and user exercises just for lower body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

The description which follows and the embodiments described therein are provided by way of illustration of an example of particular embodiment of principles of present invention. This example is provided for the purposes of explanation and not limitation of those principles and of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 12, the preferred embodiment of an exercise apparatus with divergent/convergent motion according to present invention is shown to comprise a base frame 310, upper synchronized mechanism 901, lower synchronized mechanism 902, power transmission system 903, slide unit 904 (see FIG. 4).

Handlebars 210,211 are fixed downwardly to the upper synchronized link mechanism respectively to the links 412,413, Links 410,411 having front end connected pivotally to the said base frame and having rear end connected pivotally to the front end of the links 413,412, Links 414,415 having rear end connected pivotally to the said base frame and having front end connected pivotally to the rear end of the links 413,412, Gears 416,417 connected pivotally on the said base frame and rotate with respectively links 414,415 and make harmony between two symmetrical link mechanisms. While user starts to exercise, hands travel on the semi elliptical route and link 414,415 rotate continuously with gears 416,417 CCW or CW depends on the hands travelling direction, meanwhile links 410,411 just have oscillating tilt (see FIG. 6). Link 420 having front end connected pivotally to the front end of the link 421 and having rear end connected pivotally to the said base frame and rotates with link 415 and gear 417 to transfer synchronized link mechanism revolution to the power transmission main shaft. Link 422 having front end connected pivotally to the rear end of the link 421 and having rear end fixed to the power transmission system main shaft 510 (see FIGS. 7,9).

Feet pedals 214,215 having middle connected pivotally to the shafts 712,713 and front end connected slidably to the connector shaft 716 (see FIG. 10). Shafts 712, 713 are fixed downwardly to the lower synchronized mechanism respectively to the links 613,612. Links 616,617 having rear end connected pivotally to the said base frame and having front end connected pivotally to the rear end of the links 613,612, Links 610,611 having front end connected pivotally to the front end of the links 612,613 and having rear end connected pivotally to the said base frame, Gears 618,619 connected pivotally to the said base frame and rotate with links 610,611 and make harmony between two symmetric link mechanisms. While user starts to exercise, feet travel on the semi elliptical route and link 610,611 rotate continuously with gears 618,619 CCW or CW depends on the hands travelling direction meanwhile links 616, 617 just have oscillating tilt (See FIGS. 8,10).

Timing pulley 522 connected pivotally on the said base frame and rotates with gear 619. Timing pulleys 513,514 are fixed to the main shaft 510 and rotate with power transmission main shaft. Timing belt 515 connects pulley 514 to pulley 522 and make harmony between upper and lower synchronized mechanisms. Main shaft 510 connected pivotally to the said base frame by two flanged roller bearing 511,512, Timing pulley 518 and flywheel 519 are fixed to the shaft 521 and shaft 521 connected pivotally to the said base frame 310 by flanged roller bearing 517 and magnetic brake 520 will be installed on the said base frame 310 for adjusting resistance force (see FIG. 9).

Rails 714,715 are fixed sideward to the said base frame 310 and two sliders 710,711 connected slidably to the rails 714,715, connector shaft 716 connects two sliders 710,711 and connected slidably to the front end of feet pedals 214,215 and maintains feet pedals straightforward throughout the semi elliptical route (see FIG. 10).

The described exercise apparatus further comprises a panel 10 mounted on the console at the top end of the said base frame 310. The panel 10 is a computerized device for showing the parameters such as heart rate of the user, calories burned or operating parameter such as apparatus velocity. Grip sections may include sensors (not shown) to detect the pulse rate of the user.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangement. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise apparatus enabling a user to move hands in opposite direction of feet longitudinally while hands and feet move in a divergent/convergent manner laterally along symmetrical semi elliptical routes, said apparatus comprising: a main frame including a base support adapted to be mounted on a supporting surface, at least one front supporting stand at a front end, at least one rear supporting stand at a rear end, a middle section, and an assumptive reference plane perpendicular to said base support of said main frame and longitudinally passing through the middle of said at least one front and rear supporting stands of the main frame, said at least one front supporting stand including a top section, a rear end, and a bottom section, and said at least one rear supporting stand including an upper section, and a lower section; an upper synchronized unit positioned at said upper section of said at least one front supporting stand of the main frame and comprising two link-gear mechanisms positioned crosswise at said upper section of said at least one front supporting stand of the main frame, and two handlebars, each handlebar has a top end and a bottom end, said top end of said each handlebar grabbed by the user, and said bottom end of said each handlebar connected to each link-gear mechanism of the upper synchronized unit transferring power produced by the user to each said link-gear mechanism and enabling each said link-gear mechanism to move, each said link-gear mechanism providing a semi elliptical route enabling the user to move a respective hand along said semi elliptical route, each said link-gear mechanism comprising a gear, and a link mechanism, said gears of said two link-gear mechanisms are engaged for the purpose of effecting harmonious motion between said two link-gear mechanisms, said two link-gear mechanisms installed symmetrically in relation to said reference plane enabling the user to move hands along the symmetrical semi elliptical routes, the user's hands move forward/backward in a same direction longitudinally while hands have a laterally divergent/convergent motion at a nearest point in relation to the middle section, of the main frame and have a laterally convergent/divergent motion at a farthest point in relation to said middle section of the main frame; a lower synchronized unit positioned at said lower section of said at least one rear supporting stand of the main frame and comprising two crank arm-gear mechanisms positioned crosswise at said lower section of said at least one rear supporting stand of the main frame, and two feet pedals, each feet pedal has a bottom connected to each said crank arm-gear mechanism of the lower synchronized unit transferring power produced by the feet of the user to each said crank arm-gear mechanism and enabling each said crank arm-gear mechanism to move, each said crank arm-gear mechanism providing a semi elliptical route enabling the user to move a respective foot along a semi elliptical route, each said crank arm-gear mechanism comprising a gear, and a crank arm mechanism, said gears of said two crank arm-gear mechanisms are engaged for the purpose of effecting harmonious motion between said two crank arm-gear mechanisms, said two crank arm-gear mechanisms installed symmetrically in relation to said reference plane enabling the user to move feet along the symmetrical semi elliptical routes, the user's feet move forward/backward in the same direction longitudinally while feet have a laterally divergent/convergent motion at a nearest point in relation to said middle section of the main frame and having convergent/divergent motion at a farthest point in relation to the middle section of the main frame; a synchronizer positioned at one lateral side of said rear end of said at least one front supporting stand of the main frame exchanging power between said upper synchronized unit and said lower synchronized unit, said synchronizer effecting harmonious movement between said upper and lower synchronized units so that feet move in the opposite direction of hands longitudinally; a controlling means including a computerized device showing parameters such as heart rate and burned calories of the user, a flywheel positioned at said bottom section of said at least one front supporting stand of the main frame, and at least one magnetic brake/frictional pad positioned at said bottom section of said at least one front supporting stand of the main frame for the purpose of adjusting resisting force on the flywheel, wherein adjusting said resisting forces determines the effort required of the user; a power transmission system positioned at said bottom section of said at least one front supporting stand of the main frame to transfer power from said synchronizer to said flywheel of said controlling unit while increasing the revolutions; and a slide unit positioned at said upper section of said at least one rear supporting stand of the main frame supporting said feet pedals to maintain a straight orientation of said feet pedals longitudinally during the exercise.
 2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said link-gear mechanism further comprises a link mechanism, and a gear, said link mechanism includes a front shaft pivotally connected to the front of said upper section of said at least one front supporting stand of the main frame, an upper main shaft rotatably connected to the rear of said upper section of said at least one front supporting stand of the main frame, an oscillating link having a rear end and a front end, said rear end of said oscillating link fixed on said front shaft, a middle link having a rear end, a middle section, and a front end, said rear end of said middle link pivotally connected to said front end of said oscillating link, said middle section of said middle link connected to said bottom end of the respective handlebar, a rotatable link having a rear end and a front end, said rear end of said rotatable link pivotally connected to said front end of said middle link and having said front end fixed on said upper main shaft, said gear of said link gear mechanism fixed on said upper main shaft.
 3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said handlebar transfers power produced by the respective user's hand to move each said link-gear mechanism, and as a result said oscillating link moves in an oscillating motion, said rotatable link rotates along with said gear of said link-gear mechanism, and said middle section of said middle link moves along with a respective connected handlebar along a semi elliptical route.
 4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said crank arm-gear mechanism further comprises a crank arm mechanism, and a gear, said crank arm mechanism includes a rear shaft pivotally connected to the rear of said lower section of said at least one rear supporting stand of the main frame, a lower main shaft rotatably connected to the front of said lower section of said at least one rear supporting stand of the main frame, an oscillating crank arm having a rear end and a front end, said rear end of said oscillating crank arm fixed on said rear shaft, a linkage arm having a rear end, a middle section, and a front end, said rear end of said linkage arm pivotally connected to said front end of said oscillating crank arm, said middle section of said linkage arm connected to said bottom of the respective feet pedal, a rotatable crank arm having a rear end and a front end, said rear end of said rotatable crank arm pivotally connected to said front end of said linkage arm and having said front end fixed on said lower main shaft, and a gear fixed on said lower main shaft.
 5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said feet pedal transfers power produced by the respective user's foot to move each said crank arm-gear mechanism, and as a result said oscillating crank arm moves in an oscillating motion, and said rotatable crank arm rotates along with said gear of said crank arm-gear mechanism, and said middle section of said linkage arm moves along with a respective connected feet pedal along a semi elliptical route.
 6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said synchronizer further includes a middle main shaft rotatably connected to one lateral side of said rear end of said at least one front supporting stand of the main frame, a sprocket/pulley fixed on the bottom end of said middle main shaft, a sprocket/pulley fixed on said lower main shaft of a one of said two crank arm-gear mechanisms whose said lower main shaft is closer to the synchronizer, a chain/belt which connects two said sprockets/pulleys to transfer power between the lower synchronized unit and said synchronizer, and a bar linkage mechanism transferring power between the upper synchronized unit and said synchronizer.
 7. The exercise apparatus of claim 6, wherein said bar linkage mechanism further includes, two identical rotatable bar linkages, each rotatable bar linkage having a front end and a rear end, and a middle bar linkage having a front and a rear end, said rear end of first rotatable bar linkage of said two identical rotatable bar linkages fixed on the upper main shaft of a one of the two link-gear mechanisms whose upper main shaft is closer to the synchronizer, said rear end of said middle bar linkage pivotally connected to said front end of said first rotatable bar linkage, and said rear end of second rotatable bar linkage of said two identical rotatable bar linkages pivotally connected to said front end of said middle bar linkage and having front end fixed on the top of said middle main shaft of the synchronizer.
 8. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said power transmission system further includes a main sprocket/pulley fixed on said middle main shaft of said synchronizer, a fly wheel shaft rotatably connected to said bottom section of said at least one front supporting stand of the main frame, a fly wheel sprocket/pulley fixed on said fly wheel shaft, and a chain/belt transferring power between said main sprocket/pulley and flywheel sprocket/pulley and increasing revolution of the flywheel shaft; the flywheel of the controlling means fixed on said fly wheel shaft.
 9. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said slide unit further includes two rails, each rail fixed laterally at each side of said upper section of said at least one rear supporting stand of the main frame, two sliders, each slider having a bottom and a top, said bottom of each said slider slidably connected to each said rail of said slide unit, and a connector shaft having each end fixed at said top of each said slider and having a middle section slidably connected to the bottom of each said feet pedals, wherein said connector shaft moves back and forth along with said sliders of said slide unit for the purpose of supporting said feet pedals, and said feet pedals slide laterally on said connector shaft, wherein said feet pedals whose bottoms pivotally connected to the lower synchronized unit are always oriented perpendicular to the direction of said connector shaft while the feet pedals are moving along the symmetrical semi elliptical routes. 